Frozen Eggs

[PirateGirl]

I did a little search and found mixed results.

Is it safe to eat eggs that freeze and crack in the coop?

I don't mean it got kinda cold and there's a hairline crack.
More like I didn't collect the eggs in time and it was below zero F and they split open and are frozen solid. It's winter here, a lot, like 9 months of the year, so I really don't want eggs to go to waste unnecessarily. Plus what bacteria is still alive at this temp? But then I have to thaw it to eat it. Can it be peeled while frozen (I didn't try, but maybe should have)?

Thanks for your feedback.

This is my first winter with chickens, my first frozen egg, it had poop on it too so I tossed this one, but hopefully won't have to toss too many in the future.

 

[WhiteWyan]

Are you able to collect eggs more frequently? Hopefully you can catch them before they freeze.

Also just IMHO you can eat them as long as you cook them thoroughly... I'm sure the bacteria are alive but you can cook them dead. It's a fresh egg. Just make sure to use it right away...?

I've never tried but I imagine if you dunk it in warm water you could thaw it enough to slough off the shell.

 

[Smuvers Farm]

Also, don't toss the eggs. Boil, and then mash (shell on) and serve it back to your chickies. They'll be thrilled that you did!

 

[PirateGirl]

Also, don't toss the eggs. Boil, and then mash (shell on) and serve it back to your chickies. They'll be thrilled that you did!

Thanks, I hadn't thought about that, but the chickens would certainly like it shell and all!

This time was just one egg, I had checked earlier in the day and nothing, and found this one when locking up at night.

Hopefully I can Get my husband in the habit of checking for eggs if he beats me home in the winter!

 

[sylviethecochin]

Also, yolks get weird and hard after being completely frozen, even when entirely defrosted. They do not scramble or bake well anymore, but they are definitely edible, so long as you prioritise the frozen ones. I usually just feed them to my hens.

 

[aart]

Got power in your coop?
@RonP has a solution:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/heated-nesting-boxes-help-stop-frozen-eggs.67252/

 

[Folly's place]

I would never eat them, but would consider cooking them and feeding to the chickens. Maybe. How many eggs/ cost analysis; the actual value of the eggs involved is likely pretty low. Is it worth it? I've always just 'fed the garbage' with any such eggs.
Mary

 

[RonP]

This will be my third season using my heated nesting boxes.

My daytime ambient temperatures are not severely cold, so these work very well for me.

As designed, the heaters will add ~20F to the nesting boxes.

Eggs will freeze at ~28F.

In theory, my eggs should not freeze till daytime coop temperatures dip and remain below 8F, which in my memory has never occurred. Certainly not in the last couple of years.

As such, I have not proved my theory, but I also have not had any frozen eggs since I installed the heaters.

 

[PirateGirl]

ok ok everyone, but the question is not how to stop eggs from freezing, the question is that if eggs freeze, are they safe for me to eat?

 

[RonP]

ok ok everyone, but the question is not how to stop eggs from freezing, the question is that if eggs freeze, are they safe for me to eat?

I would not answer your question, for fear of liability.

I would share the opinion that I would not take the risk once the natural barriers against bacteria were breached.

Not sure that helped.